In “send ups that are better than they should be or than I was ever expecting them to be” news – THE EXORCIST on FOX premieres tonight with a terrifying and very well done pilot, showcasing what happens when two priests with wildly different approaches are called into consult on a case of demonic possession at the home of Geena Davis’ Angela and her family.

While one might expect this to be a direct remake of the extremely scary movie of the same name, what I enjoyed most about the show and the introduction of these characters, is that this stands on its own as not only a terrifying look into what is happening to these people, but a “spin-off light” that holds the original source material in high esteem while laying the groundwork to become something wholly and completely stand alone.

Great performances by Davis, Ben Daniels, and Alfonso Herrera, supported by solid writing and direction. If you can stomach it or stand the tension, THE EXORCIST is definitely worth a look!